I am not quite sure what those members are afraid of, Mr. Speaker.
The Conflict of Interest Act prohibits public office holders from using their positions to further the private interest of a friend, regardless of whether public money changed hands. The Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, the Minister of the Environment, the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and others gave special attention to funding applications for their friend, Rahim Jaffer. The minister's parliamentary secretary is now dodging committee this afternoon.
Will the minister explain, since compliance is a precondition to employment, what consequences will face those who violate the Conflict of Interest Act?